New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-03
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s0ME MELANCHOLY bcoho
frof i. ToisfoL translated from tho R Russia.
byEAraAy, a4sKELL DOLE limo PIP Sio' 'n0""'
DICKS WANDERING. BY JULIAN sTURdIs' LIMO
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Translated by LEW vANDERPooLE. 16mo. PIP 2lI
John W. Lowell Company.
The translator has brought together In one
volume the powerful morbid study entitled "The
Death of Ivan Ilyitch." and a number OF recent
short stories by Tolsto. all of which were written
in illustration of his religious philosophy, ana
several of which were intended for popular tracts,
for distribution among the Russian muJiKs'
much after the fashion OF the chapman's literary
wares in medieval England. The story OF Ivan
Iyitch is study in morbid psychology. 1t de-
scribes the life and then the slow death by PAIN
full disease, of an ordinary selfish. sordid man,
who obeys all conventional laws. commits no
crimes as judged by the statutes, fulhls pubic
duties consceutiously, brings up family as wei
as most men do and yet Is made TO realize IN dyin
that his life has been worse than wasted NO
doubt the author chose his type with the express
purpose Of creating the stronger impression upon
the general reader but the effect is hardly that
which he intended. Nothing Is developed In the
career of Ivan Ilyitch to Justify the Implications
1t is only to crotchety and Unbalanced imagna-
tion that the humble yet dutiful and on the whole
conscien tious life of such man can be made 10
appear the dismal failure Count Tolstof desires
it to be considered. As to the lingering torture
through which the poor follow IS brought 10 MS
death. such an experience, IL brought home TO the
masses with the force and clearness OF this strk-
ing description, seems much more likely to pro-
mote atheism than religion and plety'
Tolstoi appears at times DESTROYS to convey the i'm
preston that the fearful agonies endured by llyitch
wero somehow the consequences OF his sins III
Is very doubtful whether in these DAYS moral can
be taught in that way. Apart from the ethics OF
the story, which are medieval, and the philosophy,
which is primitive, the stud" is fine piece oil nt-
erary work. The patients struggles with the
disease with his own apprehensions with tho in
difference Of his wife and children, with the
ipsoluble problem of the Why-are each and all
drawn 10 the life with an insight, microscopic
detail, vividness, beyond praise.
The other stories illustrate Tols:oi's theories
about the land, about government, about non
resistance. The last tale. or parable, is one the per-
mission to print which by the censor Is proof that
despotism IS often very i'll and unintelligently
served; for the story is really savage attack upon
the present Russian military system. and indeed
upon the administration generally, thlniy dis
ruised in sort of fairy tale. Nothing pleases the
hot thau to daecrhe a where All
are in moderate circumstances. where all work with
their hands, where the only crime is idleness, where
non-resictance to violence is the prevailing rule.
In one place he represents a country so peoped as
exposed to In vasiOn but tho hostile army IL so de-
moralized by meeting no resistance that 1t retlres
discounted Count Tolstoi might have found In
history many examples of non-resist-
ance to invasion. but he would seek In
vain for solitary instance OF such
an effect as he imagnes being produced upon an
invading force by absolute submission. IL Is the
literary quality in these talos which commends
them to the reader, and not the political economy
OF the philosophy. They are certainly interesting
for the light they throw upon Tolstors, gradnai
evolution into his present intellectual position ana
they possess quaintness and simplicity which are
charming But it must be said. that like all the
later writings OF this author they tend TO empha-
N-~N~~
mined 10 hide his literary light under the bushel
~ an impossbe resurrection of unsophisticated
social methods The world must reckon the event as
distinct loss when for great writer 1T Is offered
a crude philosopher.
Dicks Wandering" Is brilliant novel and an
honest and thorough piece of literary work IL Is
written with care. with full knowledge, with the
Judgment which avoids supernuity, and with
IL IA n nd N a.
lisb life Of the period quiet unsensationa but full
of healthy interest. keen Characterization, bright
dialogue and fine analysis. Many OF the people
are made to stand ont and live in mastory man
ner. Fabian Deane the university tutor who 30
abounds with spare enthusiasm that he Is always
rushing into new and wonderful projects and COM
pications u thoroughly real. Dick himself Is
capital fellow and typo OF wholesome element
in young England. There are passages In the
book which recall Disraelfs light and
bright style, but the political touches
are more faithful and less extravagant
than Disraels usually were. The description OF
Dicks canvass of the borough of Retgate Is OK
cellent The treatment of the young squire as
candidate by the tradesmen, who IN all other Walks
OF life have to look up to tho - Hall" people. Is
quite stroke Of genius, and few modern Writer'S
seem to have gone deeper into the bourgeois politics
of Great Britain than Mr. Sturgis There is an
American girl in the story and she end her father
arc the least satisfactory figures The other female
characters are all good and OF the most inter-
esting episodes Is the rather dangerous experiment
Of Mrs. Torington happily ended by Kitty Hol-
croft the American heroine. who leads poor Dick
such a dance over the Old and New Worlds.
Translations do not always justify themselves.
but "Daniele Cortis" does. 1t Is tale Of passion.
but in no sense a narrative os moral abandonment.
young girl with bad mother mlrrics for tho
sake of a home OF her own. Her husband proves
to be an adventurer. gambler. man OF no princi-
pie What Is even moro serious. she discovers that
she loves Daniele Cortis noble young man. dis
tantly related to her. They have been together
more or less all their lives aud il il only after